Use gzip Compression Ratios to Quickly Identify High-Signal Documents

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A technique using the gzip compression tool allows users to rank text documents by information density without AI or manual review. The method works on the principle that repetitive, boilerplate-heavy text compresses more efficiently than content with varied vocabulary and structure. By calculating each file's compressed-to-original size ratio, documents that resist compression — scoring a higher ratio — are flagged as potentially more information-dense and worth closer inspection. A simple Bash pipeline can automate this ranking across an entire directory of text files. The approach has notable limitations, including unreliable results for very small files, non-text formats, encrypted data, and documents where repetition reflects precision rather than redundancy.

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